Machine for operating on needles



1935- J. BAXTER Er AL. @QQQE? MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON NEEDLES I Filed July 6, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet; 1

Fl G I gwvewboza James Baxter and William TZ'vendwZe altboiw 344/ amaz MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON NEEDLES J. EAXTE Filed July 6; 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 15 v James Baxter an? will-5am Tzlvendale abtozwey' Juiy '23, 1935. J BAXTER ET AL. 250G928? MACHINE FOR OPERATING on NEEDLES Filed July 6, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jwvawboza James Baxter ana wb uiam Tllvendale a/WOz nen 391935 J. BAXTER ET AL MACHINE FOR OPERATINGQQN NEEDLES July 2 l2 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jfi'ly 6, 1953 gwva'wbozo .James flawcter anti (ii/216661237211 Tivendal wvmw 7 Juiy 23, 1935. J. BAXTER E! m.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON NEEDLES Filed July 6, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 g'wue'vyboz James Baxter can/Z uzilliam JzJvenda-Ze abbovweg/ Juiy 23, 1935 J. BAXTER ET AL.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON NEEDLES l2 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July 6, 1933 'rwewvtow James Baxter and wb'umm To'vendwle July 23, 1935.

J. BAXTER AL MACHINE FOR OPERATING'ON NEEDLES l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed July 6, 1935 E3 :Iiiii'll g wuew bozo James Baxter anE wzIZ/Liam Tzlvendale jufly Z3, 1%35 J BAXTER ET AL 2,009,2$7

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON NEEDLES Filed July 6, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 3mm enkow Jaqm es Baxter and G. wvllzam Tivend'ale 3 J. BAXTER ET AL MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON NEEDLES July 23, 1

Filed July 6, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet l1 g'wuenwboz James Baxter and wo'lziam Zzlvendale Patentedduly 23, 1935 UNITED. STATES OFFICE? James Baxter, Glasgow, and 'William' Tivendale, Clydebank, Scotland, assignors to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New-Jersey ApplicationJuly 6.1933, seria No. 679,163 1 I In Great. Britain July 8', 1932 F i v v 19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of needles and has for an object to provide amachine adapted to automatically present needle'eblanksto a suitable tool or tools factuated to perform needle-making operations upon the needle-blanks. V

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for operating upon needle-blanks, which machine is adapted to automatically transfer partially formed needle-blanks from a hopper or' otherneedle-blank supply to a needle-blank carrier and to present the partially formed needleblanks', disposed in a predetermined position angularly of the longitudinal axis thereof, to a suitable tool'or tools designed and actuated to perform needle-making operations upon the needleblanks. More specifically, the present invention. has for an object "to provide a machine adapted to automatically supply partially grooved needleblanks having'projec'ting fins to a rotatable turret and to automatically present said needle blanks in predetermined positio'n'to a plurality of tools including groove-milling m eans andfirimilling means. H xWith the above and other more specific objects in' viewpthe invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts herein after :described in connectioniwith the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which, the several features of the invention and the advan tages' attained thereby will' be: readily understood by those skilledin the art.

9 1 In the accompanying drawingsFig. '1, 1 and 1 togetherconstitute a 'plan'view showing the general. layoutof the turret and tool-heads, Fig. 1 showing the central portion ofthe machine and Figs 1 and 1 showing the portions'tothe left hand and to the righthand, respectively, of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line aa of Fig; 1 showing the turret and the mechanism for'imparting stepwise rotationthe reto; Fig. 3

F is a fragmentary inverted'plan of Fig. 2; Figs. 4,

4 and 4 togetherconstitute a sideelevation showing the needle-blank feeding station and the fin-locating head,' Fig. 4 sho'wingthe central portion of the machine and Figsi i and 4? showing the portions to the left hand and to the right handjre'spectively, of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a part;e1e-

vation part vertical section on the line bb' of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is ajragm'entary detail View of the chuck of the' fin-locating head; Figsj7-12 are detailviews of thegroove-detectingandlocati'ng head, Fig; 7 being a plan, Fig. 8 a side elevation partlyin section, Fig. 9. a front end elevation, Figs. 10 and 11' elevations at rightangles to one another showing the. driving mechanism for the head, and Fig. 12a transverse section on the line c-c of Fig. 7; Fig. .13 isa part side elevation, part 5 vertical section of the groove-locating head; Figs. 14-16 show the fin-milling head, Fig. 14 being a side elevation, Fig. 15 a front elevation, and Fig. 16 a rear elevation. Figs. 17-20 are detail views of ,a needle-blank, Fig. 1'7. being an elevation, Fig. 18a view at right angles to Fig. 17, Fig. 19 aview at 180 to Fig. 17, andFig. 20 a view cor: responding to Fig. 19 showing the blank after the gr'oove milling and tin-milling. operations thereon have been completed. Figure 21. is a fragmentary detail view. a

Referri'ng'to the drawings, 1 denotes a turret which is rotatable stepwise in the direction indicated by the arrow A (Fig.1) in a horizontal plane and around which are grouped a feeding station indicated generally at 2 for feeding needle blanks'to the turret I, afin-locating head indi cated generally at 3, a groove-detectingand. lo eating head situated at .4 (Fig. 1-) and shown in detail in Figs. 7 12, a groove-milling head indie catedgenerally at '5, a groove-locating head in dicatedgenerally at 6 and a fin-milling head indicated generally at 'l. I

The turret I presents around its periphery a plurality of radial pockets 8 adapted to receive the shanks of needle-blanks 9 ejected endwise, shank end first, from the feeding station 2, the pockets 8 beingso' dimensioned that thebladesof. the needle-blanks project, outwardly from the turret l. Mounted on the turret I immediately above each pockets is a blade spring l0 forming a detent engageable with the shank of the needle-blank fed intothe associated pocket 8. v

In operation, in each" step of rotationyof the turret l a pocket 8 isbrought into register with the feeding station 2 and needle b'lanks on the turret are broughtinto register one with each of the tool-heads 3'-'l, blanks being fed one at a time into the pockets 8 as said. pockets 8 register successively with the feeding station 2. i 45 'As each needle blank on the turret lfoomes into register with the fin-locating head 3, thefinned portionof the needle-blank is embraced by two diametrally opposed spring-urged fin-; gers ll which are carried-by a chuck l2 oi thefin-locating head .3; .and which, when the chuck I2 performs, a partial rotation, engage the -fiI1S l3 and rotate the needle-blank until the-fins -l3 are, locatedin the same vertical plane- 'Ihechuek i2 is mounted for axial movement radially of the 55 turret I and for rotation about an axis coincident with the axis of the needle-blank on a spindle I4 disposed radially of the turret I and adapted to be axially advanced to bring the fingers H into operative relation with the fins I3 and to be axially retracted after each fin-locating operation.

As each needle-blank on the turret I comes into register with the groove-detecting and locating head (Figs. 7-12), two diametrally opposed spring-urged fingers I5, I6 advance into engagement with opposite sides of the needle blade, and, if the needle-blank is so angularly disposed that the recess II (Figs. 17 and 18) in'one side of the needle blade, immediately above the needle eye I8, is entered by the finger L6,. excess movement of the finger I6 towards the needle blade causes the fingers I5, I6 to rotate the needle-blank through 180 into correct angular position for presentation to the groove-milling head 5, followed by retraction of the fingers I5, I6 clear of the needle-blank. If, on advance of the fingers I5, I6, the needle blade happens to be disposed in correct angular position for presentation to the groove-milling head 5, i. e., when the side of the blade'opposed to the recess I and presenting apartially formed groove I9 (Figs. 18 and 1-9) is engaged by the finger I6, the fingers I5, I6 are retracted clear of the needle-blank without effecting rotation thereof.

As eachneedle-blankcarried by the turret I comes into register with the groove-milling head 5, the needle-blank is extracted from its pocket ll 'in the turret I by means hereinafter described, operated on in the groove-milling head 5 to extend the groove I9 along the blade, as shown in Fig. 20, and replaced in its pocket 8.

as each needle-blank comes into register with the groove-locating head 5 it is acted upon thereby to rotate the needle-blank through 90 in order to bring the fins I3 into the same horizontal plane for presentation to the fin-milling head I.

As each needle-blank comes into register with the fin-milling head "I, it is extracted from its pocket 8 in the turret I, acted upon within the fin-milling head I to remove the fins as shown 3 in Fig. 20, and finally ejected from the fin-milling head 1.;

The turret I is secured on a vertical shaft 2| journalled and axially located in a bearing 22 (Fig. 2) mounted centrally in a table 23 upon which'are positioned the feeding station 2 and the tool-heads 3 I. Journalled on the shaft 2| below the table 23 is a worm-wheel 24 continuously rotated in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. 1) by means of a worm 25 (Fig. 1) meshing therewith and secured on a driving shaft 26.

Frictionally acting on the .underface .of the wormwheel- 24 is an annular friction member 21 coupled to the shaft 2| and adapted frictionally to transmit stepwise rotation to the shaft 2| from the continuously rotating worm-wheel 24. Coupled also to the shaft .2I by means of a pin 28 is a toothed'wheel 29 presenting on its periphery two sets of teeth', namely, an upper set 30 and a lower set 3|, one set of teeth being pitched intermediate the other set of teeth. Engageable ali secured to theunderside of the table 23. Mounted onthe other arms 34, of the lever 333 5, one on each arm, are two cam-followers 38, 39 coopcrating with a rotary face-cam 40 unitary with a ea iw 4 mes i wi a dr ng a 1 i ion 42 secured on a main driving shaft 43. Compression springs 44 housed in recesses 45 in the boss of the toothed wheel 29 act upwardly on the annular friction member 21 to maintain said member 21 in frictional engagement with the worm-wheel 24, the member 21 being coupled to the wheel 29 by means of pins 21 upstanding from the wheel 29 and engaging apertures in the member 21.

The arrangement is such that in the rotation of the face cam 4|! the detent 32 is moved into alternating engagement with the teeth 30, 3| so as intermittently to arrest the drive to the turret I, it being understood that, while rotation of the turret I is arrested, the worm-wheel 24 is rotating against the frictional restraint of the friction member 21. A collar 46 secured on the lower end of the shaft 2| presents two spaced projecting lugs 41 which straddle the lower end of the pin 28 and through which are screwthreaded two set-pins 48 between the inner ends of which is clamped the pin 28. As will be evident, by adjusting the set-pins 48 the angular setting of the toothed wheel 29 with respect to the turret I may be accurately determined.

Located at the blank feeding station -2 is a V.-shaped hopper 50 into which-needle-blanks are fed with their shanks disposed towards the turret I and in the base of which is mounted with its axis extending radially of the turret I a stepwise rotatable feed roller 5| overhanging the periphery of the turret I and presenting-011 its periphery longitudinal grooves '52 adapted to entrain blanks from the hopper 50 and to carry said blanks to the undersideof the roller whence the: blanks are dropped one into each pocket 8 of the turret I as the pockets 8 come into register successively with the feeding station. As each blank drops from a groove '52, its shank enters the pocket 8 therebelow and its blade engages a fixed rest 53. Mounted for reciprocating movement radially of the turret I, in line with the blank ejected from the roller 5I,-is a cam-actuated reciprocatory pusher bar 54 which, as each blank is ejected from the roller 5I, is reciprocated to propel the blank endwise so' that the shank of the blank is pushed forcibly below the detent spring In of. the respective pocket 8. The roller 5| is carried bya spindle 55 which carries on its outer end a ratchet pinion-56 with which cooperate a detent 51 and a pawl 58 deriving motion from a vertically reciprocating cam-actuated tappet '53.

In lieu of charging needle-blanks into the hopper 50 the blanks may be charged galley.- fashion into a guideway60 along which they are laterally displaced towards the feed roller 5| under the action of a gravity-actuated pusher 6 I. The spindle I4 of the fin-locating head 3 (Figs. l 4' and 6) receives its partial rotative movements through the medium of intermeshing camactuated gear pinions 62, 53, and receives its axial movements through means including an arm 54 secured on the upper end of a camoscillated vertical spindle 65.

The fingers I5, I6 of the-groove-detecting and locating head (Figs. 7-12) are pivoted at 66, 61, respectively, to a chuck E8 and are relatively closed or opened for. engagement with or disengagement from the needle-blank by means of a sliding collar 69 actuated by a cam I0 secured on the front end of a shaftII journalled and axially located in a casting .12 which carries the chuck 68 and its actuating spindle I3 and which is slidable radially of the turret I between guides I4 secured on the table 23. The shafts II, I3 are driven by and are axially slidable through'gear pinions '15; I6,- respectively, .of which the pinion 15 meshes with an idler TI which meshes in turn with a The pinion I6 other arm of which carries a follower 83 cooperativewith a cam 84' secured on. the pinion I5.

Sliding movements radially, of the turret I are imparted-to the casting I2 by a groovedcam 85 secured on the shaft 1 I and engaging a normally fixed roller 86 carried by a lever 81 adjustably' pivoted to a bracket88 secured to the table 23 and carrying the geairpinions I5, I6, TI and 80.

Unitary with the finger I6 on the opposite side The other arm 9| of the fixed contact 94 to close an electric circuit in- .cluding an electro-rmagnet. 95 controlling a spring- ,position' against the action of gravity.

In operation, the casting-I2 is slid radially of Q the turret, I .to bring the fingers I5, I 6 into and outofgoperatiye relation with the needle-blank by the :cam 85. Shouldthe spring-urged finger I6 enter the recess I! of the needle-blank, the toe 39 of saidfinger engages the arm 90 of the bell-crank 90, 9 I, whereby the bell-crank lever is rocked and the contacts 93, 94 are closedto excite the electro-magnet 95 The electro-magnet' 95 thereupon disengages the trigger 96 from supporting relation with-the rack 3| which is allowed to fall to a limited extent and in so doing imparts 180 rotation to the shaft 73 to correct thean'gular position of the needle-blank as hereinbefore explained. In the retractive stroke of the casting I2 the rack 81 is restored to raised position by the cam 84 acting onthe rack through the medium of the lever 82. The rotation of the shaft I3 is limited to 180 in each direction by a collar 91 secured tothe shaft I3 and presenting an arm 98 cooperative with a diametrally opposed pair of adjustable stops 99.

, Thegroove-milling head 5.is substantially similar to the finmilling head I which latter is hereinafterv described in detail with reference to Figs. 14,15 and 16.

. Thegroove-loc,ating head 6 (Figsbl and 13) comprises cooperative spring-urged fingers I00, 40 I engageable with the needle-blank and pivoted to a chuck I02carried on the inner end of a tubu lar shaft I03 extending radially of the turret I and journalled in a bracket I 04 fixed to the table 23; Axially movable within the shaft I03 is a rod I35 endwlse shift of which is adapted to control the fingers I00, I 0I so as to cause said fingers to engage or to release; the needle-blank. The inner end-of the rod I05 engages shoulders I06 on the inner ends of the fingers I00, IOI and the outer end of the rod I05 is engageable by a tappet I0! on the upperend of a spring-influenced lever I08 fulcrumed between its ends at I09 and cam-actuvments of the fingers I00, IOI. rotation of the shaft I03 there is provided a verated to; control the opening and closing move- For eifecting:90

tical ly; movable spring-influenced cam-actuated plungerYIIU carrying on its upperend a trans verse striker III engageable to rotate the shaft I03 through 90 with an arm II2 on a collar :I I3 secured on theshaft I03.

3 The finger I00 is bifurcated so as partially to embrace the blade of the" needle-blank while the finger IOI is adapted to enter the groove I9'in the blade so as positively to entrainthe needleblank for rotation through 90 tobringfthe fins to the front end of the slide I I4 and a cooperative movable upper clamp element I I9 carried by the front arm I of a two-armed'lever I20, I2I fulcrumed between its ends at I 22 on the slide I I 4 and carrying. on its rear arm I2-I a follower I23 adapted to be tracked by a rock cam I24 which controls the movement of the clamp element I I9. A tension spring I25 maintains the follower I23 in engagement with the cam I24. The cam I24 is formed on the upper end face of the arm I26 of a three-armed lever I26, I21, I28 pivoted at I20 to the slide II4. Each of the lever arms I21, I28 is provided with a follower I30 each engageable by a cam presented by the cam cylinder I I6. In operation, the slide I I4 advances intothe position shown inFig. 14, so that the clamp elements II 3, H9 embrace the blade of the needle-blank projecting from the turret I, it being-understood that the fins E3 of the needle-blank lie in the same horizontal plane and project laterally between the clamp elements. The cam I24 acts through the lever I20, I2I to depress the clamp element I'I9 upon the blade of the blank so that the blank is securely held between the clamp elements. The slide II4 recedes, carrying with it the needleblank, and, as the blank approaches centrally between a cooperative pair of milling cutters I 3| rotating in a horizontal plane containing the blank, said cutters are moved towards one another, one on each side of the needlebla'de, into vided with .a roller I36 engageable with one arm I3! of a two-armed lever,I3'I,'I38 pivoted between its ends at I39 on a bracket I40secured to the table 23 one on each side of the slide II 4 and carrying the cutter slide brackets I34, I35. The other arm I38 of each lever I31, I38 carriesa follower I4I adapted, in the travel of the slide II4, to be engaged by a cam I42 carried by the slide I I 4 and serving to impart relative horizontal sliding movements to the-brackets I34 and I35. Tension springs I43 acting on the brackets I34, I 35 in the direction to separate the cutters I3I serve to maintain the rollers 1 I36 in cooperative engagement with the lever -armsI3I. The cam 'I I 6 is so formed that'the retraction of the needleblank from its pocket in the turret is performed rapidly, whereas the travel of the blank during the actual milling operation is performed com:- paratively slowly. Before the clamp element H9 rises to release the blank, the shank of the blank is engaged by springrcontracted :tweezers which:

deli'ver .the :blank into a receptacle .or chute and :which include an arm I45 carried by a rock shaft I46 journalled in brackets I41 attached to the brackets I40'above the level of the cutters I3I.

.Pivoted'at I48 to the arm I45 is a two-armed lever I49, I50 of which the arm I49 is urged by a spring I49 and the arm I50 presents .a clamp element I-5-I cooperative with the free end of the arm I45 to :grip the shank of the needle-blank under the action of the spring I49. In operation, immedi ately after the fin-milling operation and in the advance of the slide 114, the rock shaft I46 is actuated through the medium of a cam-actuated link I52 to swing the tweezers downwardly from the :position I53 to the position I54 (Fig. 14) in which latter position the clamp elements I45, I5I engage the needle shank. The clamp element a I I9 then rises to release the blank, whereupon the tweezers are swung upwardly to initial position and by engagement of the arm I49 of the twoarmed lever 'I49, I50 by a stop I49 movable with the cutter-carrying bracket I35 the clamp element I5I is moved away from the needle blank which is allowed to drop into asuitably placed receptacle or into a chute directed into such receptacle.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the groove-milling head 5 is substantially similar to the fin-milling head 1, it being understood that in the groovemillinghead one milling cutter only is necessary to efiect the grooving operation described. Two .milling cutters may, however, be used in the groove-milling head 5 when the needle-blanks are to be formed with two diametrally opposed grooves. Blank-ejecting tweezers are not re .quired in the groove-milling head, it being understood that the blank is returned to the turret after the groove-milling operation.

The feed station and the tool-heads with the exception of the milling cutters are driven from the shaft 43 which is journalled beneath the table .23.

The blank feed pusher bar 54 is actuated from a cam I12 secured on the shaft and engaged by afollower I13 carried on one arm 114 of a doublearmed lever I14, I15 pivoted at I16. The other arm I15 of said lever is connected by means of a link I11 to one arm I18 of a bell-crank I19, I19 pivoted at I80. The other arm I19 of the bellcrank is bifurcated at I9I so as operatively to engage a collar I82 secured to the outer end of the pusher bar 54. A tension spring I83 acting on the bell-crank arm I19 is adapted to propel the pusher bar 54 under the control of the cam I12. The tappet 59 for actuating the blank feed roller 5| is actuatedfrom a cam I84 secured on the shaft 43 and engaged by a follower I85 on one arm I86 of a two-armed lever I86, I81 pivoted at I16. .The other arm I81 of said lever has a pinand-slot connection I88 with the lower end of the tappet 59 and is urged by a tension spring I89 in the direction of the upward or operative stroke of the tappet 59..

For actuating the fin-locating head 3 there are provided on the shaft 43 two cams I90 and I9I.

The cam I90 is engaged by a follower I92 on one arm I93 of a two-armed lever I93, I94 pivoted at I95. The other arm I94 of said lever is pivotally connected at I96 to the lower end of a link I91 the upper end of which is connected to a crank pin I98 on the gear pinion 63 of the tin-locating head. The'cam I'9I. is engaged by a follower I99 on an arm 200 secured on the lower end of the spindle 65 of the fin-locating head, which spindle 65 is oscillated by the cam I9I to impart axial movements to the head-spindle I4 through the medium of the arm'64'. A tension spring 201 acts the arm 64 in the direction to advance the spindle 34 towards the turret I.

Secured on the shaft 43 is a'bevel pinion 202 meshing with a bevel pinion20i3 secured =on a shaft 204 which carries and drives the cam cylinder M6 on the groove-milling h'ead5. Secured on the shaft 204 is a cam 205engagedby'a-1ol- 1ower'"206 on a lever 201' which actuates the plunger IIO of the groove-locating head 6. -A-te'nsion spring 209 acts downwardly on the plunger IIO. Provided also on the shaft 43 is s. cam 209 which actuates the tappet I01 of the groovelocating head 6 through the medium of a link 2I0 provided at one end with a follower 2I'-I cooperating with the cam209 and operativelyconnected at H2 at its other end to the lower end of the lever I08 which carries the tappet 401, the lever I08 being influenced by aspr ing 2I'3 which maintains the follower 2 in engagement with the cam 209.

' Secured on the shaft 43 is a bevel pinion 214 meshing with a bevel pinion 215 on a shaft 2I5 which carries'and drives the cam N6 of the linmilling head'1. I

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that partially formed needlebl'anks 9, having projecting fins as illustrated in Figs. 1'1, 13 and 19 of the drawings, are successively supplied to the step-wise rotating turret I from the hopper 50 or, if preferred, from the guideway 60. Each of the needle-blanks is deposited with its shank in a turret-pocket 8, in front of a detent spring i0, and with its blade supported by the rest 53. The pusher-bar 54 is new advanced under the influence of the spring I83 (Fig. 5) to force the shank of the blank under the detent spring I0, which thereupon serves to support thebla'nk upon the turret.

The turret I is then step-wise advanced by the mechanism illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, to carry the needle-blank to the finlocating station 3, where the fins of the needleblank are engaged by the spring-pressed fingers I I of the chuck I2, Fig; '1, which chuck functions to rotate the needle-blank axially upon the turret to position the needle-blank fins in a vertical plane. To this end and as shown in Figs. 1, 1 4 and 4 the chuck-carrying shaft I4 is initially advanced yieldingly toward the turret I by the spring 20I and is then partly rotated from the cam I90, which acts through the lever4'93, I94, link I91, and gear pinion '63 to rotate the'gear pinion 62 keyed upon the chuck-shaft I 4. Should the needle-blank be correctly positioned when presented to the chuck I2, the latter merely operates idly. I

While the needle-blank has now been positioned with the'fins vertically disposed, 'it'is still necessary to insure that the partially formed groove I9 'is definitely positioned. To that end, the turret I now advances the needle-blank to the groove-detecting and -locating head 4, where the fingers I5 and I6 are advanced into engagement with opposite sides of the needle-blade. As herein previously described in detail, the needle blank is turned by the fingers I5 and 16 if the blank is so positioned that the blank-recess I1 is entered by the finger I6.

The turret now carries the correctly positioned needle-blank to the groove-milling station 5, at which point the needle-blank is abstracted from the turret-pocket 8 and is operated upon to extend the groove I9 along the blade, after which the blank is returned to the turret-pocket.

groove-milling mechanism corresponds substantially with the fin-millingmechanism at station 1, but as the needle-blankis returned by the needleclamp of'the groove-milling head to the turret I, the needle-blank removing tweezers are omitted at the groove-milling station; Further, the slideactuating'cam cylinder I I6 of the groove-millingf head '5 is provided with a cam groove whichis so shaped that the needle'clampof the head 5 is caused first to advance to engage a needle-blank,

to return so as to extract the needle-blank from the turret and to cause the blank to be acted upon bythe milling cutter of the head 5 whereby to extend the groove I9 in the needle-blank, to

advance and replace the needle-blank in the turret, to return to permit the turret to rotate through one step, and again to advance to engage the succeeding needle-blank and so repeat its operative cycle.

-Thenee'dle-blank is returned to the turret I with the blank-fins I 3 in a vertical plane, and

thefturret now carries the blank to the groove:- locating station 5 shown in Figs. 1. and 13.- 'At thisstation, the spring-pressed fingers I00, I III, controlled by the endwise reciprocatory rod I05, engage the'blank. The fingers IBU, I 0I are thereupon rotated 90 by'the vertically movable plung- .er H0, as'previously described, to position the blank-fins I3 in aliorizontal plane.

The turret I then advances to carry the needleblank-"to the finm illing station I, Figs. 1'4, 15

andlii'wher'eupon the slide H4 is advanced by eluding the rock arm I45fand the two-armed le ver- I 59, I 5il,fsaid tweezers being swung down:

wardly about the rock-shaft I46 by the camactuated link 552 to seize the needle-blank. The blank is simultaneously therewith released by the clamp-element I I9, whereupon the tweezers are swung upwardlyto initial position and are caused to release'the' needle blank as herein-' before explained, the blank dropping into a suit ablyplaced receptacle or'a chute.

We claim:''

1; machine -=successivelyirorri said hopper to said pockets with their blades projecting radially from said pockets,said-transferring'means including astepwise rotatable roller formed on its periphery with longitudinal grooves" and a pusher bar for ejecting the needl'e blanks from said grooves into said pockets, means for imparting stepwise rotation to said turret, and a'series of tool heads grouped around said turret; said tool heads comprising locating 'meansfgroove-milling means, and fin-' -mi'lling'"mean's for. operatingjsuccessively on the needle-blanks. .7 7 V 2. A machine "for groovingjand for removing projecting fins from partially grooved needlee blanks, comprising a rotatable turretformed with 'perip'heral pockets, means for imparting step for grooving and for. removing. fins from needle-blanks, comprising a rotatable turret having peripheral pockets, ahopper above" said turret, means for transferring needle-blanks partially grooved needle-blanks havingprojecting fins successively to said pockets and'for positioning the needle-blanks in said pockets with the needle-blades projecting radially beyond said turret, and a series of tool heads grouped around said turret and arranged to act successively onthe needle-blanks-Whereby, firstly, to position each needle-blank with respect to its fins, secondly, to reposition needle-blanks incorrectly disposed with respect-to a partiallyiormed groove in the needle-blade, thirdly, to extend said groove 1 longitudinally of theneedIe-blade,"fourthly," to' correct the position of the needle-blank for the fin-removing operation, fifthly, to removethe;

to effect delivery of the needle-"- blank. i

fins, and, sixthly,

- 3. A machine for grooving rotation to said turret, a hopper above said turwise rotation to said turret, means for feeding I and for removing projecting fins from partially grooved needle-- Y blanks, comprising a rotatable turret formed-with peripheral pockets, means for imparting stepwise ret, means for transferring needle-blanks having projecting fins successively from said hopper to said pockets and forpositioning the needleblanks in said pockets with the needle-blades projecting radially beyond said turret, andza series of tool heads grouped around said turret and arranged to act successively on the needle-blanks whereby, firstly, to" position each needle-blank with respect to its fins, secondly, to reposition needle-blanks incorrectly disposed with respect .to a partially formed groove in the needle-blade,

thirdly, to extend said groovelongitudinallypf 1 the needle-blade, fourthly, to correct the posi--} tion of the grooved'needle-blank for the fin-removing operation, fifthly, to'remove the fins, and sixthly, to effect delivery of the'needle-blank.

4. A machine for grooving and for' removing fins from partially grooved 'needle-blanks'comprising a rotatable turret for carrying the needleblanks,means for imparting stepwise rotation to said turret, and a series of tool heads grouped around the centre of rotation of said turret, 'said' 7 tool heads comprising fin-locating means, groove detecting means'means influenced by said groove detecting means for effectinga semi-rotation of an incorrectly positioned needle-blank, groovemilling means, and fin-milling means for operating successively on the needle-blanks;

5. A machine for grooving and for removing,

projecting fins'from partially grooved needleblanks, comprising a rotatable turret for carrying'the needle-blanks, a continuously rotating toothed wheel rotatable with said turret, a caminfluenced detent serving intermittently to arrest rotation of said turret, and a series of tool heads grouped around the said turret, saidtool member 'frictionally coupled to said turret, 'a

heads comprising groove-milling means fin-mill ing means for operating successively on the neei dle-blanks;' and meansfor -axially rotating fsaid needle-blanks into definite position preparatory to operation upon said needle-blanks bysaid tool-heads. I I H 6. A machine for grooving and for removing projecting fins 'from the blanks of a partially 7 formed needles, comprising a rotatable turret for carrying needle-blanksdisposed upon the turret 70,

in angularly different positions of the needlel blank fins, means for imparting stepwise rotation to said turret, grove milling means and fin-milling means stationed aboutsaid turret for operating on said needle-blanks, and locating means rendered effective by incorrectly positioned needle-blanks toimpart to said needle-blanks axial'rotation of an angular extent varying With different initialpositions of the needle-blank, said locatingmeansacting to bring the needle-blanksinto definite position preparatory to the operation upon the needle-blanks by said groove-milling means.

7. A'machine for grooving and for removing projecting fins from the blanks of partially formed needles, comprising a rotatable turret for carryingthe needle-blanks, means for feeding the partially. formed needle-blanks having projecting, finsto saidturret, means for imparting stepwise rotation of; said turret, means-effective to axially rotate incorrectly positioned needleblanks into definite position, and a series of tool heads stationed about said turret including a groove-milling means and fin-milling means for operating successively upon saidneedle-blanks.

8; A- machine for grooving and for removing projecting finsfrom partially grooved needleblanks, comprising a rotatable turret for carrying the needle-blanks, means for imparting stepwise rotation to said turret, a series of tool heads stationed about said turret including groove-mille ing means and fin-milling means, and means rendered effective by incorrectly positioned needle-blanks to: axially rotate said needle-blanks into definite position with respect to the partially formedgrooves thereof preparatory'to the operation: upon the needle-blanks by said groovemilling means.

9; A .machinewforgroovingand for removing.

projecting fins from partially grooved needleblanks, comprising arotatableturret for carrying the needle-blanks, means for imparting stepwise rotation to said turret, fin-locating means effective to axially rotate the needle-blanks into definite position with respect to the fins thereof,

groove-locating means effective to axially rotate the'needle blanksincorrectly positioned with respect to the groove thereof by said fin-locating means, and-.a series of tool heads stationed about said turret, including groove-milling means and fin-milling means. r

1 0. A machine for grooving and for removing fins from partially grooved needle-blanks having projecting fins, including groove-milling and finmilling tool-heads stationed to successively op- --erate upon the needle-blanks, needle-blank feeding means for automatically advancing said needie-blanks to said tool-heads, and means for axially rotating said needle-blanks into definite position with-respect to both the fins and the grooves thereof, preparatory tooperation upon ging the needle-blanks,- meansfor imparting stepwise rotation to said turret, and a series of toolheads grouped around said turret for operating successively on the needle-blanks, saidtool heads comprising fin-locating means effective to axially rotate the needle-blanks into a definite position of the fins thereof, meanseffective to axially r0- tate theneedle-blanks incorrectly positioned with.

respect to the grooves thereof, groove-milling means, fin-millingmeans, and. means disposed "between said groove-milling and fin-milling means for partly rotating .the needle-blanks axially.

1'2. A machine for grooving and for removing projecting fins from partially grooved needle ;blanks-, comprising a rotatable turret having peripheral. pockets, av hopper above saidv turret, means for transferring needle-blanks successively from said hopper to said pockets withtheir-bladesprojecting radially from said pockets, means for imparting stepwise rotation to said turret, groovemilling means and fin-milling means. stationed, about; said turret. for operating on said.need1e,- blanks, fin-locating means effective to axially -rotate the needle-blanks into definite position witlr. respect to the fins thereof, and groove-locating, means effective to axially. rotate the needle-.- blanks incorrectly positioned. withrespect. to the groove thereof by said fin-locating means and preparatory to the operation upon theneedleblanks by said groove-milling means.

13. A machine for operating upon needle blanks, including a rotatable. turret for hold-'- ing needle-blanks disposed lengthwise radially. of the turret, a plurality of tool-headstationaadjacent to and disposed circumferentially of. said turret, mechanisms at. said stations for progressively performing different needle-makingoperations upon said needle-blanks, means: for impart ing stepwisefrotation to said turret to carry the needle-blanks- .to saidv tool-head stations, and means at eachof said. stations" and reciprocable in; directions radially of said turret for abstracting. needle-blanks therefrom. for presentation-.toasaid mechanisms.

14. A machine for operating upon: needleblanks, including a rotatable turret having, needle-blank holding means, a tool-head station, adjacent to said turret, mechanism at saidsta tion. for performing a needle-makingoperation, means. for imparting stepwise rotation to said. turret to carry needle-blanks to:said:station,. and

means operative at said station for abstracting a ing stepwise rotation to. said turret to carry needle-blanks to said stations, needle-blank feeding. means operative at one of said tool-head; stations. for abstracting aneedle-blank from said.

turret, presenting the abstracted needle-blank;

to the mechanism at that station, and for return-- ing the needle-blank to the turret, and needle-- blank feeding means disposed, at a succeeding tool-head station for again abstracting the needle-blank from. the turret and for presenting said needle-blank to the mechanism at that station.

16. A machine for operating uponneedleblanks, comprising a. rotatable. turrethaving needle-blank holding means, a hopper, means for.

. transferring needle-blanks successively from said.

hopper to the needle-blank holdingmeansof said-i turret, a plurality of tool-head stations.,adja-- cent to said turret, mechanisms. at said stations. for progressively performing different needlemaking operations upon said needle-blanks, means for imparting stepwise rotation to. saidturret to. carry the needle-blanks to said. tool.-

needle-blank. holding means, a plurality of tool blanks,

head stations disposed adjacent to and spaced from each other circumferentially of said turret, means for imparting stepwise rotation to said turret to carry needle-blanks to said stations, difierent tools at said tool-head stations adapted to progressively perform needle-making operations upon said needle-blanks, reciprocatory slides at said tool-head stations provided with needleclamps, and means for reciprocating said slides relatively to said turret to abstract the needleblanks from theturret and present said needle blanks to said tools.

18. A machine for operating upon needleincluding a rotatable turret having needle-blank holding means, a plurality of toolhead stations disposed adjacent to and spaced from each other circumferentially of said turret,

means for imparting stepwise rotation to said turret to carry needle-blanks to: said stations, tools at said tool-head stations adapted to perform needle-making operations, reciprocat-ory slides at said tool head stations provided with needle-clamps, 'means for reciprocating said slides relatively to said turret to abstract the needle-blanks from the turret and present said needle-blanks to said tools, and controlling means for the needle-clamp of one of said slides operating in timed relation to the reciprocatory movement of the slide to return the abstracted needleblank to said turret.

19. A machine for operating upon needleblanks, including a rotatable turret having needle-blank holding means, a hopper, means for transferring needle-blanks successively from said hopper to the needle-blank holding means of said turret, a plurality of tool-head stations disposed adjacent to and spaced from each other circumferentially of said turret, means for imparting stepwise rotation to said turret to carry needle-blanks to said stations, tools at said toolhead stations adapted to perform needle-making Y operations, needle-blank locating means effective in advance of said tool-head stations to insure a predetermined position of the needle-blanks angularly of the longitudinal axis of said blanks, means at the tool-head station .to whichthe needle-blanks are initially advanced for succes- 

